Apparatus for making electrically ignited match heads



March 10, 1953 w. F. M'lTcHELTREE 2,630,734

TRICALLY IGNITED MATCH HEADS APPARATUS FOR MAKING ELEC '7 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed June 27, 1946 I N VEN TOR. Wlfel-E'Mitcheltzfee BY m March l0, 1953 w. F. MITCHELTREE 2,630,734

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ELECTRICALLY IGNITED MATCH HEADS Original Filed June 27, 1946 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 A INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY March 10, 1953 w. F. MITCHELTREE 2,630,734

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ELECTRICALLY IGNITED MATCH HEADS Original Filed June'27, 1946 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VEN TOR.

A 7' TOR/VE Y March 10, 1953 w. F. MITCHELTREE 2,530,734

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ELECTRICALLY IGNITED MATCH HEADS Original Filed June 27, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 (Sv Kn Nmi '7 Sheets-Sheet. 5

W. F. MITCHELTREE APPARATUS FOR MAKING ELECTRICALLY IGNITED MATCH HEADS INVENTOR. Waler'Jzc/zelz'ee ATTORNEY ad! E .NN #NNW O O O March 10, 1953 Original Filed June 27. 1946 March 10, 1953 w. F. MrrcHELTRr-:E 2,630,734

APPARATUS FOR MAKING ELECTRICALLY IGNITED MATCH HEADS Original Filed June 27. 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 il! E I N VEN TOR.

"u MMM/melma ATTO/WYE March l0, 1953 w. F. MITCHELTREE APPARATUS FOR MAKING ELECTRICALLY IGNITED MATCH HEADS 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Original Filed June 27, 1946 I N VEN TOR.

A 7 TOR/viv Wallerl'litckeltzfee Patented Mar. 10, 1953 UNITED S'I'A'i1 1"', 1949,'Selia`l No. 108,022

Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for making! electrically ignited match` heads and is ai division` of the application of WalterF. Mitcheltree, Serial' No. 679,852, led` June-C27, 1946, now Patent No; 2,666,475, for Electrically Ignited Match Heads and the Method for Making' the Same.

Electrically ignited match` heads" are` employed in dring detonators, powder'blastingl charges and the chemical heater' units employed in reusable blasting cartridges containing liquid carbon di-A oxide.

' The wires ot these electrically ignitedv match heads in the past` generally have. been held together by a plug madefof.` ai sulfur composition. However, theseA sulfur' plugsr have` not been entirely satisfactory for thefreasons that they are fragile. `As' the matchH heads;` usually are4 installed in the field, they receive fair-lyrough treatment and it is therefore' important that they be ci a strongconstruction.

An object of thepresent inventionis theV provisien of a' novel' apparatus for manufacturing electricaly ignited match heads* as a result of which a plurality ofmatch heads are produced simultaneously as a'continuousstrip which is so notched orweakened that it subsequently can be broken up intov the'ndi'vidal match' heads;

Other objects andadvantages of the'invention will be apparent during; the courseof the following description.

The present apparatus' presents renements' Figure 3 is a sectionallview on line: 3 3 of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a sectional View on` line 4-4 of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale,

Figure 5 is a sectional` view on'- line 5`5 of Fig. fi on a still greater.: scale,

Figure `6 is a'isectional view-onu line 6'6 of Fig.2,

Figure 7 is a sectionalf'vi'ewfon'line- 1--"7 of Fig. 601i a gr'eater'scale;y

(Cl. Sli-1) Figure 8 is a perspective View of the upper thermoplastic sealingstrip employed With the invention,

Figure 9 a sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale,

Figure 10 is: a side elevational view of the heater to be employed with the invention,

Figure' 1l is aplanvview of the heaterof Fig. l0,

Figure' l2 is a'. sectional' View on line [2;42 of Fig. 10on an enlarged scale;

Figure 13' is asectional View onthe line 13-i3 of Fig. 10 on'an enlarged scale,

Figure' 14 is a plan View' o'f the mold plateused with the heat'er,.

Figure" 15 is a' fragmentary elevational view showing the cutting of the wires by the severing tool,

Figure 16 is a plan View` f the plastic strip, containir'igv the embedded wires; as" it comes from the molding operation,

Figure 17 is a3-frontend View: of Fig. 16,

Figure 18 is a front elevational View` ofy a clamp tohold the match strip assembly of Fig. 16,

Figurelg'is a sectiona'lview on line I9l9 of Fig. 18- shovvihga match'A stripassembly held by the clamp;

Figure 20 is an elevational View which illustra'tes the st'ep'ofl solder-ingjafbridge Wire or la# ment tofall ofthe igniter terminals of the group of match-headset the plastic strip of Fig'. 16;

Figure` 2l is a' fragmentary View, on an enlargedV scale, of the group ofmatch heads of Fig. 2G with the single' strandl of' fusible Wire soldered to the igniter terminals;

Figure 22 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view illustratingthesteps of cutting on the bridge wires between theiindividualmatches, and the pinching together of thefterminal Wires of eachmatch to formi a slack-in the'bridge Wires,

Figure 23 isa transversevertical'sectional View taken online 23-23 (pf-Fig, 22, I

Figure 24- is a: detail,` `fragmentary enlarged view illustrating the stepofY dipping; the terminals and bridgewvires of-the'gr-oup'of match heads in a coating'mixture,

Figure 25 Vis a transverse'vertical sectional'view taken on line 25e-25 of'Fig 24',

Figuref26` isa planvievv of the plastic strip, containing the embedded wires; afterui'eiieads have been coatedrwitn' al powdeifmirture anda moisture-proof mixture, and

Figure arf is? a i Vpersp"eetivef View4 of' a nished andsepa'r'at'ed match Referring rstqto Flgsl and 2, the Wheel or' drum wis mounted upon asliaft' 2l which is tions at which separate operations will be per-V formed, and it is, therefore, important that this indexing means rotate the drum accurately to each one of its positions. The drum remains in each one of these positions while some operation is being performed at most of the stations presented by the drum.

Mounted upon the periphery of the drum at equally spaced circumferential points are holders 22. These holders 22 are of elongated bar formation and their ends should extend beyond the oppositen ends of the drum 20. As here shown, these holders 22 are rectangular in cross section and present an outer generally at surface. The holders 22 are retained upon the drum 20 by bolts 23 which pass through the drum and into the holders 22. The holders 22 are disposed parallel to each other and to the axis of the shaft 2 l.

Extending longitudinally of each holder 22 in its outer face is a central channel 24 and side grooves 25 parallel thereto. The channel 24 is wide and relatively shallow and is intended to receive a plastic strip, as will be explained later. The side grooves 25 are narrow and somewhat deeper and are intended to receive a cutting tool for severing the Wires, as is set forth in Patent 2,260,558, but only one of these grooves 25 is used at one time.

Transversely of the outermost face of each holder 22 are notches 26 which are each of a width and depth corresponding to the diameter of the wire strand 21 intended to lie in each notch so that the top of the wire 21 will be flush with the outer surface of the holder 22.

The notches 2B extend transversely across the complete width of the outer face of each holder 22 so that a plurality of wires 21 which are laid across this outer face will be accurately positioned transversely of each holder. These wires 21 may be delivered to the holders 22 upon the drum by any suitable means which will locate -a wire in each one of the notches and which will continue to supply these wires as the drum 20 is advanced. A suitable wire feeding means is illustrated in Patent 2,260,558.

It has been stated that the drum 20 is advanced at intervals through a definite degree of rotation so as to carry the holders 22 to their respective successive positions. Prior to the position 0, a plastic strip 30 is located in the central channel 24 of holder 22 and this is made possible because the wires 21 have not yet come into contact with the holder 22 and, consequently, free access to the channel 24 is had. When the holder 22 is advanced to position 0, the wires 21 bear downwardly upon the plastic strip 30 and hold it in place in the channel 24.

The plastic strip- 30 preferably ts the full width of the channel 24 and it should be only so high as to just bear against the overlying wires 21. The youtei` face of the strip 30 is formed with `two transversely spaced, longitudinally extending parallel grooves 3l. These grooves are provided for the purpose of constituting a female die member to be used in making kinks in the wires 21. u

When the holder 22 is advanced to position I.

4 shown in Fig. 2, a male die member 312l is positioned above the plastic strip 3B and over the wires 21. This die 32 is preferably of the same width as channel 24 and has formed longitudinally thereof, on the side which is to face toward the plastic strip 30, ribs 33. These ribs 33 are so positioned that they overlie the grooves 3| in the plastic strip 30 and, consequently, constitute a c-ompanion die member. In position l the die 32 is struck on its outer face with a number of sharp blows to urge the ribs 33 toward the grooves 3l and thereby form two kinks in each one of the wires 21. The die 32 is then removed and the drum 2i! is advanced to carry this holder 22 to position 2.

In position 2, a mold plate 34, illustrated in Fig. 14, is positioned upon the outer face of the holder 22. This mold plate 34 is accurately positioned upon the holder 22 by providing it at its opposite ends with dowel pins 35 which enter holes 36 in the outer face of each holder 22. It is preferable that one of the pins 35 be longer than the other pin and that the hole 35 which is to receive it be correspondingly deeper so that the mold plate 34 may be positioned upon the holder 22 in only one relationship.

It is intended that the mold plate 34 be held firmly onto the holder 22 and to accomplish this, it is provided at its ends with U-clamps 31. The U-clamps 31 are pivoted to the sides of mold plate 34 by the pins 38 so that the U-clamps may be easily swung around the projecting ends of the holder 22 in applying the mold plate 34 to or removing it from the holder 22. The mold plate 34 is held firmly down upon the holder 22 by means of clamping screws 39 which bear against the projecting end portions of holders 22 as appears from Fig. 9. v i

Longitudine-Hy of the mold plate 312 is a slot 4l. This slot 4l corresponds in width and length to the width and length of the plastic strip 30 which is located in the channel 24 of holder 22 and when the mold plate is properly positioned, slot 4l is in registry with channel 24. Slot 4I is intended to receive a plastic strip 42 which just fits in width, but preferably is of slightly less thickness than the thickness of the mold plate 24. The plastic strip 42 is preferably made of the same material of which plastic strip 35 is formed. It will be noted from Fig. 8 that the plastic strip 42 is fiat on its sides.

After the mold plate 34 is affixed to holder 22, the plastic strip 42 is positioned over the plastic strip 30 and upon the kinked wires 21. It is in tended that heat and pressure be applied to the plastic strip 42 so that it will be molded about the kinked wires 21 and will be fused to the underlying plastic strip 30.

To apply this heat and pressure, the invention contemplates the use of a heater 43 shownin Figs. l0-13, inclusive. This. heater includes a core bar y4', having substantially the width and length of the slot 4! so that it will enter into this slot. The core bar 44 may be heated in any suitable manner, but in accordance with the invention it is intended that this bar be heated by electric current. On opposite sides of the core bar 44 are clamped heater retainer plates 45, by means of a plurality of bolts 45. The core bar 44 projects downwardly below the retainer plates 45, as appears from Fig. l2, so that the retainer plates 45 will not interfere with the entry of the core bar 44 downwardly into the slot 4l of mold plate 34.

On the inner faces of thel retainer plates 45 are longitudinally extending grooves d1 in which lie rods it having a high electrical resistance. For example, the heaters 4d may be of the type sold under the trade-nan1eCalrod. These rods 43 are considerably longer than the retainer plates 0.5 and extend through handles 5@ at opposite ends of the heater. The retainer' plates 45 are attached to the handles by means of bolts 5l which extend through the handles 59 and have secured thereto depending lugs 52. The retainer plates l5 are longer than the core bar i4 and their extremities are bolted to the lugs 52 and in this manner a rigid assembly is presented.

Electric wires maybe attached to the heater rods 8, in any suitable manner so that the passage of current through these rods will heat them and thereby heat the core bar fili. The heater rods l on opposite sides of the core bar may be connected to the source ci current either in series or in parallel to correctly relate their resistance to the impressed voltage. The handles 53 should be made of some electrical and heat insulating material so that the heat `from the heater rods it will not injure them and so that the heater may be readily handled by an operator.

The pressure applying side of the core bar le is formed with transverse ridges 53. These ridges 53 are uniformly spaced along the entire I length of the core bar t4 so that each one of them will form a transverse groove or notch lill in the plastic material made up of the .fused strips Sil and d2, corresponding to each position at which the fused strips are to be severed to form the individual matches. Thus, there will be one of these transverse ridges 53 between every other wire 21 so that each individual match will have therein two kinked wires.

Inasmuch as the transverse ridges 53 must be located accurately for them to form notches 5i in the plastic strips at the desired points relativeV to the wires 21, positioning means are provided to accurately locate the heater t3 in its longitudinal position. This is accomplished by providing the heater 43 with a laterally projecting pin 55, here shown to be the projecting portion of an elongated one of the bolts This guide pin 55 is intended to enter a notch 5C. formed in an upright plate 51 attached to the side of the mold plate 34. The top of the notch 52 is preferably made relatively wide to facilitate the entry of the guide pin 55, but the bottom of this notch 56 should preferably snugly receive the pin 55 so as to thereby accurately position the heater i3 longitudinally with respect to the mold plate 34 and holder 22'.

The application of the heater t3` to the plastic strip i42, therefore, serves not only to cause this strip to soften sufficiently for it to be molded about the kinked wires 21, but also for this outer plastic strip 42 to fuse and unite with the inner plastic strip 3E. In addition, notches 513 are formed in this composite, plastic strip to weaken it along the lines corresponding to the intervals at which this strip is to he broken apart.

After the heater i3 has been applied to the plastic strips for a suicient period tofuse them, the heater i3 and mold plate 3e are removed andthe drum 2c is advanced to carry this holder 22 to position 3. In position 3 a cutter such as the one shown in Fig. 1,5` is employed to sever the wires 21. the proper one of the` side grooves 5` in holder 2.2,- to. thereby out the wires in. themannerr more This cutting tool isA advanced alongl 6,., fully explained in Patent No. 2,260,558. After this groove 25 becomes worn, the holder 22 may be turned around upon drum 2B so that the other side groove 25 will be positioned to receive the cutting tool. In this manner, the useful life of the. holder 22 is prolonged. After the wire severing operation, the drum 2c is again advanced to carry the holder 22 to position Li. In this position, theplastic strip is removed and it the appearance shown in Figs. 16 and 17.

Figs. 16 and 17 show the notches 54 which are formed in the plastic strip by the transverse ridges 53 at the points at which the strip is to be broken apart. The plastic strip is now clamped between a holder shown in Figs. 18 and 19 made up of plates 60 and El and clamping bolts 62. The continuous strip of matches is held in this holder while it` is subjected to the further processing steps which are illustrated and described in connection with Figs. 18 to 45 Patent No. 2,260,558. This further handling of the matches will be described here briefly as the patent may be, referred to, for a complete explanation To apply a bridge Wire 6,11 across the terminal, or short ends, of the Wires 21, the4 procedure illustrated by Fig. 20, may be followed. The holder plates 60 and 6l,l with the plastic strip clamped therebetween, is placed upon a table S5. A slot te through table S5, permits the long ends of wires 21 to hang downwardly so that the short ends are directed upwardly as. shown in Fig. 20.

The bridge wire 64 is supplied from a spool 51 supported upon table` 65. The wire 5 4 is laid upon the top ends of the wires: 21 and is soldered at the junctions 68 as isA shown in Fig. 21. It is important that the bridge wire t4 be of some high electrical resistance material, as Nichroine.

The bridge wire 64 should beI out away between the 4individual match heads so, that portions of it remain only as a connection between the terminal, short-ends, of the Wires 21 for each match. This cutting operation may bev performed simultaneously by means. of the cutting plate 1Q shown in Figs. 22 and 23. This. plate 1G has' openings 1l to receive the pair of wires 21 for each match and the lower edge at each opening serves to cut the bridge; wire. at the outside of the wires 21 for each4 match.

It is desirable that the shortnd terminals oi wires be pinched toward` each other to iorm a slack in the connecting bridge wire. This slack permits the terminal ends of wire 21 to move under bending stresses without breaking bridge wires E54. This pinching together of the ends of wires 2l is accomplishedV by forming the openings 'H in plate 10 of conical shape so thgat an inward camming effect is had on the upper ends of wires 21, as appears from Fig. 22,

To properly align the plate 10 with respect to the upper ends of wires 21, it isprovided with dowel pins T2 near each end. These pins 12 enter holes 13 at each end of holder plate Gti, as shown in Fig. 23. The pins 12 enter holes@ 13 and serve to guide the movement of the cutting and pinching plate 10.

The bridge wires of each match are then to be encased in a bodyof readily ignitible material, such as the mixture of a low-ash powder mentioned in Patent No. 2,260,558.` To apply this coating, the holder made up of plates 6B and 6l is inverted so that the, bridge, wires 64 are downward as appears` from Fig, 24, and may be dipped into a liquid bath 14. containing, this ma-k escojer teriaL This liquid bath is contained in a trough 75 in a block 76.

The bridge Wires til and the adjacent ends of wires 2l are repeatedly dipped into and withdrawn from the liquid bath 14 until a body of the ignitible material has been built up on each match. To facilitate this successive dipping operation, the holder plates S and 6l may be supported in brackets l1 which correspond to the brackets |21 of the machine shown in Figs. 36 and 38 of Patent No. 2,260,558.

- After a body of powder of sufficient size has been built up for each match head, they should be coated with a moisture proong material and this may be accomplished by dipping the group of match heads into a bath of this material, This Iapplication of the moisture proofing coating may be performed in a manner similar to the dipping operation of Fig. 24. A suitable coating material is that mentioned in Patent No. 2,260,558. Y

After the group of bridge wires for the matches have been encased in the powder material and water proofing material, each match head i8 hasthe appearance shown in Fig. 26. When the plastic strip is then removed from between holder plates el? 'and 6i, it has the appearance shown in Fig. 26, and the matches may be supplied to the user in this combined form if desired. By breaking the plastic strip at the notches 54, the separate matches shown in Fig. 27 are obtained, and they may be supplied to the user in this form.

1t may be mentioned that the long ends of the wires 2 may be cleaned and tinned as a group, in the manner explained in Patent No. 2,260,558.

Any thermoplastic material may be used in making the strips 30 and A2, which will mold about the kinked wires 2l and fuse together under the heat and pressure applied by heater 63, and which will aiord the desired strength to rigidly and strongly retain the two wires of each match in assembled relation. One suitable thermoplastic material is Tenite Il No. 201 S2 Gray, sold by the Tennessee Eastman Company. With this material a heater temperature of 800 l, is appropriate. It is to be understood, however, that the strips 30 and l2 may be made of some thermoplastic material other than cellulose acetate or cellulose acetate butyrate.

lt will be appreciated that the use of these plastic strips 30 and 42 to form the plug for each match, affords an appreciable advantage over the use of the sulfur composition referred` to in Patent No. 2,260,558. It is not necessary to pour the individual match plugs and a considerable saving in time is therefore effected. Also there is no waste of material such as occurs with the use of the sulfur composition due to spillage and handling losses.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

l. Apparatus for making electrically ignited matches, comprising a drum mounted for stepby-step rotary movement about a horizontal axis, a plurality of bars secured to the drum periphery in parallel relationship to its axis with the circumferential spacing of adjacent bars being equal to the peripheral travel of the drum during each step-by-step movement whereby each bar is successively moved into a series of spaced workperforming positions, said bars cach having in its outer face a longitudinal channel and transverse grooves to receive and properly space the wires from which the matches are formed, said wires being supported by the bars which occupy said work-performing positions, a first die meniber, made of thermoplastic material and having a longitudinally extending depression formed in one surface thereof, placed in the channel of each bar in advance of movement of the latter into the position where the wires first engage the formed surface of the thermoplastic die member, a second die member cooperating with the thermoplastic die member only While it i5 located in the rst work-performing position for forcing the wires into the longitudinal depression of said thermoplastic die member to form kinks in the wires, a mold plate attached to the bar located in the second work-performing position and having a slot formed therein to receive and hold a strip of thermoplastic material in superimposed relation to the thermoplastic die member and in engagement with the associated kinked portions of the wires, and means for applying heat and pressure to said superimposed thermoplastic strip and thermoplastic die member to fuse them together in surrounding relationship to the kinked portions of the match Wires.

Apparatus for making electrically ignited matches, comprising a drum mounted for stepby-step rotary movement about a horizontal axis, a plurality of bars secured to the drum periphery in parallel relationship to its axis with the circumferential spacing of adjacent bars being equal to the peripheral travel of the drum during each step-by-step movement whereby each bar is successively moved into a series of spaced workperforming positions, said bars each having in its outer face a longitudinal channel and transverse grooves to receive and properly space the Wires from which the matches are formed, said wires being supported by the bars which occupy said work-performing positions, a first die member, made of thermoplastic material and having a pair of longitudinally extending depressions formed in one surface thereof, placed in the ychannel of each bar in advance of movement of the latter into the position where the wires rst engage the formed surface of the 4thermoplastic die member, a second die member cooperating with the thermoplastic die member only while it is located in the first Work-performing position for forcing the wires into the longitudinal depressions of said thermoplastic die member to form kinks in each of the wires, a mold plate attached to the bar located in the second work-performing position and having a slot formed therein to receive and hold a strip of thermoplastic material in superimposed relation to the thermoplastic die member and in engagement with the associated kinked portions of the wires, and a heated bar for applying heat and pressure to said superimposed thermoplastic strip and thermoplastic die member to fuse them together in surrounding relationship to the kinked portions of the match wires, said heated bar having transverse ridges on its pressure applying face to form fracture notches in the fused thermoplastic strip and die member between adjacent pairs of match wires.

3. Apparatus for making electrically ignited matches, comprising a drum mounted for stepby-step rotary movement about a horizontal axis, a plurality of bars secured to the drum periphery in parallel relationship to its axis with the circumferential spacing of adjacent bars being equal to the peripheral travel of the drum during each step-by-step movement whereby each bar is successively moved into a series of spaced workperforming positions, said bars each having in its outer face a longitudinal channel and transverse grooves to receive and properly space the Wires from which the matches are formed, said wires being supported by the bars which occupy said work-performing positions, a i-lrst die member, made of thermoplastic material and having a longitudinally extending depression formed in one surface thereof, placed in the channel of each bar in advance of the movement of the latter into the position where the Wires rst engage the formed surface of the thermoplastic die member, a second die member cooperating with the thermoplastic die member only while it is located in the rst Work-performing position for forcing the Wires into the longitudinal depression of said thermoplastic die member toform kinks in the wires, a mold plate having a slot formed therein to receive and hold a strip of thermoplastic material, a pair of clamping members pivotally mounted on opposite ends of the mold plate for clamping the latter to the bar located in the second Work-performing position with the slot of the mold plate registering with the thermoplastic die member to superimpose the thermoplastic strip relative to said die member, and means for applying heat and pressure to said superimposed thermoplastic strip and thermoplastic die member to fuse them together in surrounding relationship to the kinked portions of the match Wires.

4. Apparatus for making electrically ignited matches, comprising a drum mounted for stepby-step rotary movement about a horizontal axis, a plurality of bars secured to the drum periphery in parallel relationship to its axis with the circumferential spacing of adjacent bars being equal to the peripheral travel of the drum during each step-by-step movement Whereby each bar is successively moved into a series of spaced work-performing positions, said bars each having in its outer face a longitudinal channel and transverse grooves to receive and properly space the wires from which the matches are formed, said Wires being supported by the bars which occupy said work-performing positions, a first die member, made of thermoplastic material and having a longitudinally extending depression formed in one surface thereof, placed in the channel of each bar in advance of movement of the latter into the position Where the Wires rst engage the formed surface of the thermoplastic die member, a second die member cooperating with the thermoplastic die member only While it is located in the first work-performing position for forcing the wires into the longitudinal depression of said thermoplastic die member to form kinks in the wires, a mold plate attached to the bar located in the second work-performing position and having a slot formed therein to receive and hold a strip of thermoplastic material in superimposed relation to the thermoplastic die member and in engagement with the associated kinked portions of the wires, and a fusing bar for applying heat and pressure to the superimposed thermoplastic strip and thermoplastic die member independently of said die supporting bar and mold plate to fuse the strip and die member together in surrounding relationship to the kinked portions of the match Wires.

5. Apparatus for making electrically ignited matches, comprising a drum mounted for stepby-step rotary movement about a horizontal axis, a plurality of bars secured to the drum periphery in parallel relationship to its axis with the cir-.

cumferential spacing of adjacent bars being equal to the peripheral travel of the drum during each step-by-step movement whereby each bar is successively moved into a series of spaced workperforming positions, said bars each having in its outer face a longitudinal channel and transverse grooves to receive and properly space the wires from which the matches are formed, said wires being supported by the bars which occupy said Work-performing positions, a rst die member, made of thermoplastic material and having a pair of longitudinally extending depressions formed in one surface thereof, placed in the channel of each bar in advance of movement of the latter into the position Where the Wires rst engage the formed surface of the thermoplastic die member, a second die member cooperating with the thermoplastic die member only While it is located in the first Work-performing position for forcing the wires into the longitudinal depressions of said thermoplastic die member to form kinks in each of the Wires, a mold plate having a slot formed therein to receive and hold a strip of thermoplastic material, a pair of clamping members pivotally mounted on opposite ends of the mold plate for clamping the latter to the bar located in the second work-performing position with the slot of the mold plate registering with the thermoplastic die member to superimpose the thermoplastic strip relative to said die member, and a fusing bar for applying heat and pressure to the superimposed thermoplastic strip and thermoplastic die member independently of said die supporting bar and mold plate to fuse the strip and die member together in surrounding relationship to the kinked portions of the match Wires.

WALTER F. MITCHELTREE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,052,533 Pender Aug. 25, 1936 2,173,186 Swartz et al. Sept. 19, 1939 2,269,558 Caughey et al. Oct. 28, 1941 2,301,662 Wilson Nov. 10, 1942 2,368,717 Marschner Feb. 6, 1945 

